Porpora: Dalla Reggia di Flora, Cantatas

Featuring

Cristina Grifone
Mvsica Perdvta
Nicola Antonio Porpora

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Recording & Production

This album is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary under the title of Rosa Mystica and to S. A. R. the princess Beatrice of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies.

Composer Biography

Porpora demonstrated expert knowledge of the human voice, creating moments of extraordinary pathos and technically demanding virtuoso writing in his secular cantatas.

Composition History

Most of the cantatas on this recording come from manuscript scores, primarily preserved in the library of the Conservatoire of San Pietro a Majella in Naples.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The floral motif in Porpora's cantatas, such as roses, violets, and sunflowers, served as an objective correlative for love stories, typically unhappy ones, between nymphs, shepherds, or unfaithful lovers.

Compositional Technique

Porpora's cantatas typically follow one of two structures: recitative-aria-recitative-aria, or a shorter aria-recitative-aria version.

Composer Biography

Nicolò Antonio Porpora (1686-1768) wrote a large number of cantatas for soprano and basso continuo, many of which focus on flowers and plants.

Compositional Technique

In Porpora's cantatas, the first aria is generally descriptive and slower, while the second is livelier and concludes the work with virtuoso brilliance.